Internships

Population unit interns hard at work during the seventh meeting of the Working Group on Ageing in November 2014

When?

We are looking for interns throughout the year. The normal duration of an internship is three months and this may be extended up to a maximum of six months (the minimum is two months). Interns are expected to work on a full-time basis.

Where?

Population unit, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, Geneva, Switzerland.

What would your responsibilities be?

The main tasks will involve assisting with the activities carried out under the overall guidance of the Working Group on Ageing, an intergovernmental body, supporting the Generaltions and Gender Programme (a panel survey and macro-data base), and participating in other activities related to ageing, generation and gender policies.

Depending on your academic and professional background, this may include:

Preparations for meetings of the Working Group on Ageing and its Bureau, including developing documents and presentation materials, writing reports, and liaising with representatives of member States

Literature reviews, research, development of outlines, drafting and editing of substantive written materials including policy briefs on ageing and Road Maps for Mainstreaming Ageing in specific member States

Facilitating implementation of the 2012 Vienna Ministerial Declaration on Ageing and of the five-yearly cycle of review and appraisal of MIPAA/RIS implementation in member States: reviewing national reports, compiling regional synthesis reports, compilation, analysis and presentation of statistical data on ageing, or other activities depending on the timing of the internship

Organizing and participating in workshops and other events in Geneva

Activities related to the Generations and Gender Programme, including maintaining a database of bibliographic materials, and analysing data and preparing graphs and tables

Communication and outreach activities such as drafting newsletter articles, website and social media content, press releases and presentation materials

What could you gain?

Greater understanding of the major demographic challenges in contemporary developed societies and the ways in which international coordination attempts to address these challenges

Hands-on experience with intergovernmental political processes at the United Nations

Knowledge of the region: North America, Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia

The opportunity to work as an integral part of a small, enthusiastic team in the heart of international Geneva.

What should your qualifications be?

A high level of motivation with good researching and drafting skills; knowledge of sociology, demography, social policy or a related field. An excellent level of spoken and written English is essential, knowledge of French or Russian is an advantage. Candidates must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements :

(a) Be enrolled in a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher);

(b) Be enrolled in the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum Bachelor's level or equivalent);

(c) Have graduated with a university degree and, if selected, must commence the internship within a one year period of graduation.

How to apply

Please check eligibility requirements on the main UNECE Internship page and follow the application procedures outlined there. When submitting your application materials, please include a cover letter stating why you particularly wish to work with the Population unit, and copy your message to pau[at]unece.org (in addition to the main UNECE internship applications address).

Please be aware that the United Nations is not able to pay interns or to provide a stipend. Geneva is an expensive city. We therefore recommend that you inform yourself about the likely cost of living and investigate options for funding prior to accepting an internship with us.

Should you have any questions, do not hesitate to get in touch with us.